Cultist Finds Her Home, for Now

Pete Hegseth. Kristi Noem. Karoline Leavitt. Donald Trump, himself.  This Administration brings to mind the title of one of Al Franken's books, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them."

One of the finest liars in the Trump Administration, however, is the Director of National Intelligence, now in Georgia scouring, probably illegally, for those 11,780 votes from 2020

OMG 🚨

Tulsi Gabbard says Biden was never calling the shots.... and neither was Kamala

She says Hillary, Obama, Blinkin Jake Sullivan and the Deep State

They needed a figurehead they can control

They used the Autopen to run a shadow Govt... and the media wasn't interested pic.twitter.com/jBhWiZDRva

— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) January 29, 2026

 

President Biden used an autopen just as have most recent presidents, including Donald Trump himself. This myth began ten months ago by the Liar-in-Chief when he contended about pardons issued by Biden "in other words, Joe Biden did not sign hem but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!"

In a written opinion of July, 2005, the Office of Legal Counsel, argued

The President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law. Rather, the President may sign a bill within gthe meaning of Article 1, Section 7 by directing a subordinate to affix the President's signature to such a bill, for example by autopen.

This may have been an unsound opinion, not unlike that of the same office when it decided that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. (Mr. anti-deep state has not specifically criticized either opinion.

If there were any evidence that President Biden didn't know whom he was pardoning- let alone that there was some sort of "Deep State"- there would have been at least a hint of evidence. None ever has been produced, notwithstanding the Republican Party's enthusiasm for condemning Biden and Democrats' avoidance of defending him- because there is no reason to believe J. Sullivan, A. Blinken, B. Obama, or Hr Clinto had any control whatsoever over the 46th President.

However, my favorite Tulsiism is the following because it is not only preposterous but indicative of deep-seated hypocrisy on the part of the DNI.

One of the main reasons I left the Democrat Party was because of their hostility towards God and those who have faith in or are trying to cultivate their love for God. Those so-called 'protestors' who tried to intimidate and terrorize innocent women, children, and men in the…

— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) January 20, 2026

Fourteen months ago, a Hawaiian news organ explained that in 2015 during her second term in the US House of Representatives 

Longtime political activists here were raising alarms about her connections to the Science of Identity Foundation, an offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement launched in the 1970s by a Kailua surfer, Chris Butler. Gabbard’s family, including her father, Sen. Mike Gabbard, were adherents of Butler’s and Tulsi Gabbard grew up going to schools run by the group.

Over the years, Gabbard has stopped short of denying her membership in the foundation, which many consider a cult. She married a man whose family also was part of the organization. Questions were raised when she hired friends she’d grown up with in the organization to help advise her on policy and run her congressional office. Later, she paid others affiliated with the Science of Identity Foundation to work on her campaign.

Longtime political activists here were raising alarms about her connections to the Science of Identity Foundation, an offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement launched in the 1970s by a Kailua surfer, Chris Butler. Gabbard’s family, including her father, Sen. Mike Gabbard, were adherents of Butler’s and Tulsi Gabbard grew up going to schools run by the group.

Over the years, Gabbard has stopped short of denying her membership in the foundation, which many consider a cult. She married a man whose family also was part of the organization. Questions were raised when she hired friends she’d grown up with in the organization to help advise her on policy and run her congressional office. Later, she paid others affiliated with the Science of Identity Foundation to work on her campaign.

When Gabbard decries Democrats' alleged "hostility towards God," it is not clear what she means by "God."  There was this from six years ago: "Imagine there's no heaven; easy if you try. No sky above us; no religion, too."

 

Gabbard has re-invented herself as a cultural right-winger to a left-winger, now to a right-winger in the Trump orbit (and Administration). She may have found the God of the Old and New testaments, but it's not probable. In either case, it's rich that someone who belonged to a Hindu cult and promoted John Lennon's atheism should now accuse Donald Trump's critics of "hostility towards God."

It may have been sheer ambition that Tulsi Gabbard, after being squashed in her bid to become the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, decided to swithc jerseys. Her afffinity for Vladimir Putin's Russia may have been a factor. And that may not be all. 

At the 50th anniversary gala in 2016 of ISKCON, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, Gabbard remarked

Real spiritual understanding, or real religion, transcends sectarianism. Each and every one of us, whether we call ourselfves a Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu or any other designation, we each have this intrinsic opportunity to cultivate our own personal loving relationship with God.

Muslim, Christian, Hindu.  It's not surprising that the same individual who  absurdly slams President Biden would omit the party of Jake Sullivan, Chuck Schumer, and J.B. Pritzker. Or maybe Tulsi Gabbard is just generally clueless. 

  

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Tripartite

In May, Edward Wong in The New York Times wrote that President Trump's

actions and statements suggest he might be envisioning a world in which each of the three so-called great powers — the United States, China and Russia — dominates its part of the globe, some foreign policy analysts say.

It would be a throwback to a 19th-century style of imperial rule.

Mr. Trump has said he wants to take Greenland from Denmark, annex Canada and re-establish American control of the Panama Canal. Those bids to extend U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere are the clearest signs yet of his desire to create a sphere of influence in the nation’s backyard.

He has criticized allies and talked about withdrawing U.S. troops from around the globe. That could benefit Russia and China, which seek to diminish the American security presence in Europe and Asia. Mr. Trump often praises President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping, China’s leader, as strong and smart men who are his close friends.

In March, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius had argued much the same, that

The best assessment of Trump’s strategic “vision” that I’ve seen comes from Alex Younger, a former head of the British intelligence service known as MI6. He said in a Feb. 21 interview on BBC’s “Newsnight” that “we are in a new era where, by and large, international relations aren’t going to be determined by rules and multilateral institutions. They’re going to be determined by strong men and deals"...

Trump seems to envision a new balance of power with three poles: the United States plus Russia and China, whose leaders he sees as kindred spirits. The rest of the world, including the United States’ oldest allies, must fend for itself.

Two months later, as more evidence rolled in, Edward Wang in The New York  Times agreed, writing that President Donald Trump's

actions and statements suggest he might be envisioning a world in which each of the three so-called great powers — the United States, China and Russia — dominates its part of the globe, some foreign policy analysts say.

It would be a throwback to a 19th-century style of imperial rule.

Mr. Trump has said he wants to take Greenland from Denmark, annex Canada and re-establish American control of the Panama Canal. Those bids to extend U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere are the clearest signs yet of his desire to create a sphere of influence in the nation’s backyard.

He has criticized allies and talked about withdrawing U.S. troops from around the globe. That could benefit Russia and China, which seek to diminish the American security presence in Europe and Asia. Mr. Trump often praises President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping, China’s leader, as strong and smart men who are his close friends.

Not quite as presciently- it appears- Ignatius had added

European leaders tell me they are so worried about an expansionist Russia that they are prepared to take a strong stand in Ukraine by committing to send troops there to deter further aggression after a ceasefire. The Russians are outraged, but if Europe holds firm, will Trump really take Putin’s side against America’s closest allies? I doubt it.

Doubt no longer. In the months which have followed, Donald repeatedly has taken Russia's side againt Ukraine, pressuring Zelenskyy to give up territory and on a few occasions claiming that Ukraine itself started the war. While the President criticizes NATO, his Administration has advocated "ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a  perpetually expanding alliance."

That attitude throws into doubt the possibility of an agreement ending the Russia-Ukraine war which would give Ukraine significant security guarantees. The President does not view the transatlantic alliance as helpful to his dream of a world dominated by the world's three greatest powers- Russia, China, and the USA. Unfortunately

... the haggling over who gets dominance over what and where would likely come at the expense of (countries other than the USA, China, and Russia).

"Today's major powers are seeking to negotiate a new global order primaraily with each other," Monica Toft, professor of international relations at Tufts University in Massachusetts wrote in the journal Foreign Affairs.

"iIn a scenario in which the United States, China, and Russia all agree that they have a vital interest in avoiding a nuclear war, acknowledging each other's spheres of influence can serve as a mechanism to deter escalation," Toft said.

If that were the caase, "negotiations to end the war in Ukraine could resemble a new Yalta," she added.

Yet the thought of a Ukraine deemed by Trump to be in Russia's sphere is likely to send shivers down the spines of many in Europe- not least in ukraine itself.

"The success or failure of Ukraine to defend its sovereignty is going to have a lot of impact in terms of what the global system ends p looking like a generation from now," Mankoff said.

When Donald Trump forces an end- an unjust end- to the war in eastern Europe, he will have taken a step in promoting Vladimir Putin's plan to gain control over the entire region. "He (Putin) wants to see it happen," President Trump says. We know what Putin wants, and it has been clear since the beginning of this presidential term that Donald Trump wants the same thing.

Trump: "I saw a very interesting President Putin today. I mean, he wants to see it happen. He wants to see it. He told me very strongly. I believe him. Don't forget, we went through the Russia Russia Russia hoax together and he'd call me, I'd call him, I'd say 'Can you believe… pic.twitter.com/CKFq6bYYe2

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 28, 2025

 

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The Right Enemies

Finally, common sense.

No, not Karoline Leavitt, press secretary of President Donald Trump, but one BBC reporter who notes a not-odd couple.

BREAKING 🚨 Karoline Leavitt just said President Trump OFFICIALLY SUES the BBC for doctoring his Jan 6th speech. Sue them into bankruptcy

"This is a leftist propaganda MACHINE”

MIC DROP 🔥

pic.twitter.com/Nqkwxf01R1

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) November 12, 2025

The London Economic reports

Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby has defended the BBC by pointing to who the most vocal critics of the corporation are.

On Sunday, director general Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness both announced their resignations, following criticism over a the way a Panorama documentary edited Donald Trump’s infamous January 6 speech in 2021.

A leaked 19-page memo on impartiality by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, ruled the broadcaster gave the impression that he told supporters he would march with them to the US Capitol to “fight like hell.”

Trump has subsequently threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn in damages if the corporation doesn’t issue a full apology and retraction of the programme.

America isn’t the only foreign power to have attacked the BBC.

A statement from Israel’s London embassy on Monday stated: “For years, we have repeatedly warned about the BBC’s consistent failures to uphold the standards of accuracy, impartiality, and integrity expected from a public broadcaster.”

Wait for it; wait for it-

Meanwhile, the Russian embassy shared a post on X on Tuesday which said BBC journalists “manipulate facts & censor information that does not align with their partisan editorial stance.”

It added: “Ideological dogma has replaced journalistic ethics there, distorting the very principles of media independence & freedom of information.”

Following all this, former BBC journalist Jonathan Dimbleby has suggested criticism from states run by Putin, Trump and Netanyahu might be the perfect defence for the corporation.

Speaking to LBC, he said: “If you’ve got the combination of Netanyahu, Putin and Trump denouncing the BBC, there must be something quite good about it.”

He continued: “The one salvation of the BBC will be that as we gain a little bit more perspective, people will recognise that it is actually the most trusted and impartial broadcasting institution in the world.”

As to Israel, your mileage may vary. However, it's only appropriate that Donald Trump and the government of Vladimir Putin hold a similar view of press freedom. The enemy of both is the free press. In few instances has the adage "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" been more applicable. 

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In Lockstep With the Con Man

A right-winger favorably posts this excerpt from a Donald Trump news conference, demonstrates that MAGA world is either very delusional, very dishonest, or a little of both.

Trump makes reporter look silly after she asks why he doesn’t just end the war in Ukraine tomorrow.

REPORTER: “You have within your power, the most powerful man on Earth, why don’t you just enable Ukraine to finish this war tomorrow?”

TRUMP: “Well, if you knew anything about… pic.twitter.com/1Ub3TvvVKE

— Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 20, 2025

The reporter begins this exchange by asking "Would you support Senator Lindsey Graham's bill to declare Russia a terrorist state? And you have within your power, the most powerful man on earth. Why don't you just enable Ukraine to finish this war tomorrow?"

Constitutionally- and this is a constitutional republic, or has been- the President of the USA is constrained by Article 1 (Congress) and Article 3 (courts). This President believes that he is not so constrained, or is legally but that might makes right.

Still, it's a legitimate and appropriate question, to which Donald responds

But it sounds easy. We're in the process of trying to make  deal. If we make a deal, that's great. If we don't make a deal, it'll be, uh, a lot of people are going to be paying a big price.

Part of the MAGA world is, at least recently, Batya Ungar-Sargon, who has disappointingly scored a show of her own on News Nation. She also appears periodically on CNN's News Night with Abby Phillip, though on Monday with substitute Sara Sidner. She stated

I support white Boomers using their First Amendment rights to hold a mass therapy session about the fact that Trump won! But to call him a king is utterly preposterous. He won the popular vote. He is enacting the exact agenda he promised he would. They are actually protesting American democracy. The only appropriate response is to laugh!

There is much wrong with this comment, including the bias against whites and the elderly and the bizarre notion that protestors of a dictatorial regime are protesting American democracy.  Additionally, the remark ties in with the President's remarks about Ukraine.

Ungar-Sargon claims Trump "is enacting the exact agenda he would," an agenda which in her mind evidently does not include Project 25, which candidate Trump stated he hadn't read and didn't like- and is now enacting.

                    

However, the President also is failing to enact his foreign policy agenda inasmuch as 

On the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, Trump said on dozens of occasions, in an entirely serious tone, manner and context, that he would end the war in Ukraine either within 24 hours of his return to the White House or even sooner than that. He said over and over again, including at both presidential debates of 2024, that he would have the war “settled” when he was president-elect, before his inauguration.

A Friday search of the Roll Call Factba.se database that catalogues Trump’s public remarks turned up at least 53 examples of Trump making such comments.

In the latest effort by the leader of the most powerful military on earth to appease a dictator bent on restoring an empire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has "won certain property" during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and should be expected to take Ukrainian territory as part of a peace deal, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that aired Oct. 19.

The interview was taped a few days earlier, directly following his phone conversation with Putin on Oct. 16. The call came ahead of Trump's White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky — talks that ended in disappointment for the Ukrainian delegation, with no promise of Tomahawk missiles.

Donald's modus operandi for ending the Russo-Ukrainian war-is to put pressure on our ally to capitulate to an anti-American aggressor and tyrant.  He promised to end the war immediately after becoming President or even before becoming President.

But a king? Preposterous. Oh, wait:

 

The morning of the No Kings protests, Trump protested "They're referring to me as a king. I'm not a king," the only possible response when confronted by millions of dissenters noting that he is a king. Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

It turns out that Ungar-Sargon, as with the vast majority of Donald's supporters, will believe him over the stark, naked evidence that Trump continually supplies us with. That's true of their evident faith that Donald Trump is not a king and is simply enacting an agenda everyone in the country voted for.

  

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Projecting Strength Which Isn't There

Ironically, in a podcast episode posted to criticize Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) and President Donald Trump, Steve Schmidt illustrated the political brilliance of Donald Trump. At 3:59 of the video below, Trump at the presidential debate with Kamala Harris can be seen bragging

You need Trump back as resident. They were afraid of him. China was afraid. I don't like to use the word "afraid" but I'm just quoting him. China was afraid of him. North Korea was afraid of him Look at what's going on with North Korea, by the way. He said Russia was afraid of him.

If you're wondering who "he" is, the context of this quote makes it clear. Vice President Harris had noted, in part, "world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump. I have talked with military leaders, some of whom worked with you." And they say you're a disgrace.

Aside from the last five sentences (not pertinent here), Trump responded

Let me just tell you about world leaders. Viktor Orban, one of the most respected men -- they call him a strong man. He's a tough person. Smart. Prime Minister of Hungary. They said why is the whole world blowing up? Three years ago it wasn't. Why is it blowing up? He said because you need Trump back as president. They were afraid of him. China was afraid. And I don't like to use the word afraid but I'm just quoting him. China was afraid of him. North Korea was afraid of him. Look at what's going on with North Korea, by the way. He said Russia was afraid of him. I ended the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and Biden put it back on day one but he ended the XL pipeline. The XL pipeline in our country. He ended that. But he let the Russians build a pipeline going all over Europe and heading into Germany. The biggest pipeline in the world. Look, Viktor Orban said it. He said the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president.

A mere fifty-one weeks later and less than eight months into the presidency, we find Donald Trump decisively refuting his campaign claim that China, North Korea, and maybe Russia were afraid of him. Of course, no one has pointed it out and if media or politicians did so, they'd be accused of fake new (or worse), especially because this undermines one of the major pillars of his support. This week

President Donald Trump took to his social media platform as Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared together in Beijing for China's largest-ever military parade on Wednesday.

Trump accused Xi of "conspiring against" the United States as they attended the parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

"May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump wrote on social media as the parade was underway.

Who is afraid of who (whom) now?  Russia, Mainland China, and Korea are assembling in the open. They're not hiding from Donald Trump. If they fear Donald Trump, it's only persuading them to forge an alliance.

The loser is not Donald J. Trump. The loser is the United States of America, Europe, and our allies in Asia. But it doesn't hurt Trump because his image, as the bully on the block, is intact and no one- aside from the three aforementioned nations- is challenging it.

Far from it.  Mace, who has repeatedly claimed to be a victim of rape and is running for the GOP nomination for South Carolina governor, took to X before the Capitol Hill news conference held by United States Representatives Massie and Khanna with victims of Jeffrey Epstein:

Since it’s already being reported - Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early.

As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe.

I…

— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) September 2, 2025

Mace then signed the Massie-Khanna discharge petition calling on the House of Representatives to release the full Epstein files. However, Mace is saying whatever she can to get the President's endorsement for her candidacy for governor of South Carolina  So in the wake of the Massie/Khanna news conference, Mace tweeted (emphasis hers)

President Trump is the one who banned Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. President Trump is the one who cooperated with the feds to get this guy. President Trump is the one who is COMMITTED to protecting women and kids.

President Trump is the one committed to protecting women and kids. There is nothing this President would rather hear than that he is protecting women because that is one big hunk of an alpha male does- protect women. Not ensure their rights, secure their prosperity, nor enact good policy. He counts on them being afraid, just as he claimed during the presidential campaign that Russia, Mainland China, and North Korea are all afraid of him. Kellyanne Conway calls it swagger.

BREAKING: Kellyanne Conway praises Trump’s “swagger” and his renovations to the Rose Garden which removed all the green space. The sycophancy of these people is off the charts. pic.twitter.com/hzW88OABl3

— Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary) (@MAGALieTracker) August 20, 2025

It now appears to be costing us a great deal internationally as the President poses as almost the reverse of what he actually is.  The President wrote that the three nations are "conspiring against" the USA because he consistently tries to portray himself as the victim

It's the Trump paradox (one of them). The guy who whines and cries, cries and whines postures as the strongman. Notwithstanding the disinterest of the Democrat Party in trying to undermine this image, it is still one of the wonders of the 21st century that Donald Trump is able to get away with it. And he's doing so even as he has successfully driven enemies, two of them economically and militarily powerful, of the USA into an apparent alliance with each other.

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As the British Would Say, "Rubbish"

Former Ohio senator and current Vice President and master of irony:

JD Vance on Russia-Ukraine: "What I admire about the president is he's not trying to focus on every nitpicky detail of how this thing started three and a half year ago, he's trying to focus on the nitpicky details of now." pic.twitter.com/UCXG63U317

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 24, 2025

Focusing on a nitpicky detail of how the thing started three and a half years ago is exactly what Donald Trump has done. He always has blamed Ukraine, invaded from the east, for starting the war with Russia. As President, on February 18 he told reporters at Mar-a-Lago of Volodymyr Zelensky "You should have never started it. You could have made a deal." At the White House on April 14, he stated "you don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles."   And speaking on Fox and Friends the day after the August 19 summit with European leaders, he argued 

Russia is a powerful military nation. You know, whether people like it or not, it's a powerful nation. It's a much bigger nation. It's not a war that should have been started. You don't do that. You don't take on a nation that's 10 times your size.

Donald Trump likes and admires Vladimir Putin. Putin projects strength, as does the American President.  However, unlike Trump, the Russian President is in total control of his country, a goal Trump obviously has set for himself.

And wealthy, perhaps the fourth richest individual in the world. Although we don't know the source of his wealth

The Russian president is worth up to $200 billion, according to financier Bill Browder. Once the largest foreign investor in Russia, Browder testified in 2017 that Putin's wealth was amassed after the Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky was jailed in 2003 for fraud and tax evasion.

"After Khodorkovsky's conviction, the other oligarchs went to Putin and asked him what they needed to do to avoid sitting in the same cage as Khodorkovsky," Browder told the US Senate Judiciary Committee. "From what followed, it appeared that Putin's answer was, '50%.'"

That $200 billion estimate would make Putin one of the richest people in the world, behind Elon Musk and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, and above Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Putin is often photographed wearing "high-end luxury watches" that retail "for multiple times his supposed annual income", said Fortune. He is also rumoured to be the owner of numerous homes and hundreds of cars, as well as dozens of aircraft and helicopters.

His "lavish lifestyle" is regularly "on display" said the UK Foreign Office in 2022, after the war with Ukraine broke out and the new sanctions on Russia were announced.

That's very important. As former Trump national security advisor John Bolton has explained, "if Trump believes that he has friendly relations with someone, you know, like Vladimir Putin, then relations between the two countries will be much better."

As a consequence, Trump

has made a habit of blurring the boundary between domestic policy grievances and foreign policy goals. He is uniquely vulnerable to manipulation, critics say, because he views national and international affairs through a single prism of self-interest. 

And so the American President has embraced Vladimir Putin and the latter's argument and rhetoric, which makes it less likely that an outcome critical to the security of Ukraine and the European continent will be achieved. That's hardly the stuff of "nitpicky details."

 

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Bleeding Ukraine

To be fair- and when haven't I been fair to Donald Trump?- I don't actually believe that this is what our President was telling her.

June 25. Trump tells a Ukrainian journalist—whose husband is on the front lines—that he’ll see what he can do to help shield Ukraine’s skies from Russian attacks.

July 1. Pentagon chief Hegseth halts vital aid to Ukraine, including support to defend cities from missile strikes. pic.twitter.com/by2js2c3h1

— Resurgam (@Resurgamhub) July 2, 2025

Attempting to appear reassuring, President Trump tells the foreign reporter "I can see you're very well- you know, it's amazing." Learning that her husband is fighting in Ukraine, Trump notes "well, that's tough, you know."  When he realizes she is asking about supplying Ukraine with Patriot anti-missile missiles, Trump states "we're going to see if we can make some available."

As a skilled politician- and actor- Trump held out the hope, without a foolish promise, that Ukraine would get the help it needed. With "it's amazing" and "well, that's tough, you know," he was extending sympathy. Unfortunately, he concluded with the utterly patronizing "that's a very good question and I wish you a lot of luck. I mean, I can see it's very important to you."

If appearances are telling- and sometimes they're not- the reporter wasn't buying it. "We're going to see if we can make some available" was vague, a wise approach because 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause in sending a shipment of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine amid concern about the U.S. military’s stockpiles, according to two defense officials, two congressional officials and two sources with knowledge of the decision.

Hegseth ordered the delay weeks after he issued a memo ordering a review of the U.S. stockpile of munitions, which has been depleted after years of the United States’ sending weapons to Ukraine to defend against the Russia invasion, as well as nearly two years of military operations in the Middle East as the United States fought Houthi rebels in Yemen and defended Israel and allies against Iran, four of the officials said.

The munitions and other weapons could be held up until the assessment is complete, the two defense officials and two congressional officials said, and if the munitions are in short supply or needed in other parts of the world, they could be held back even longer.

The weapons being delayed include dozens of Patriot interceptors that can defend against incoming Russian missiles, thousands of 155 mm high explosive Howitzer munitions, more than 100 Hellfire missiles, more than 250 precision-guided missile systems known as GMLRS and dozens each of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, AIM air-to-air missiles and grenade launchers, the two defense officials, two congressional officials and two sources with knowledge of the decision said.

For some of us who are not experts in military weaponry, this sounds at least plausible. Then a member of the Administration blew the cover when

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe. The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran." The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment.

The spokeswoman is saying "We're not running out of weapons. We simply don't want to help democratic nations when invaded by totalitarian states". The macho "just ask Iran" so precious and performative. If Iran were put under truth serum, it probably would say something quite different.

So what seems clear from the intel, is that we probably should have reloaded the B2s, and gone for a second round. Instead the impulsive toddler was desperate to have a strong ending to the movie and declare a cease fire.

This is a show to him, entertainment, and he’s the…

— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) June 30, 2025

 

Donald Trump is so rude and crude that we tend to forget that he is a shrewd politician.  He promised merely "we're going to see" about the weapons because that is devoid of meaning. It was a moment in which he faced a young, obviously distressed woman and feigned concern. And then he proceeded with his strategy of acting as an instrument of the imperialist ambition of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

                                       HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

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Inflammation

There is so much to be said in the latest edition of "President Trump Tries to Break Up the Atlantic Alliance."

We may have thought things couldn't get worse after the USA sided with Russia in two votes at the United Nations. The USA sided with Russia, North Korea, and Belarus in voting against a resolution which condemned Russia's actions and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity. Then we supported a resolution we drafted which omitted criticism of Russia while calling for an end to the war.  (Both resolutions were tabled.)

Then came the Trump-Vance- Zelensky meeting in the Oval Office, which prompted a vigorous defense of the President from a few Republicans who would appear not to have watched the confrontation. This is not a case of mere difference in judgement, as when the compromised Lindsey Graham saying that he has "never been more proud" of Trump, nor Secretary of State Rubio, Speaker Johnson, and Senator Lee substituting "America" for "Russia" in claiming the President has "put America first."

There were Republicans who instead opted for self-delusion or, less generously, lying. Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona fantasized "Dictator Zelensky had the audacity to disrespect President @realDonaldTrump and VO @JDVance during what should have been a friendly meeting, and @POTUS rightfully showed him the door."

Dissatisfied with the cordial exchange among the three leaders which had characterized the meeting, Vance decided to poke Zelensky with

I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.

Instead of rebuking the Vice President for lecturing him, suggesting he bow down to Trump by "thanking the President for trying to bring an end to this conflict," Zelensky asked Vance "have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?"

Vance was unable to say that he ever had. Zelensky could have pointed out that Vance was speaking from ignorance but instead replied "come once." That was what Andy Biggs called "the audacity to disrespect Donald Trump and JD Vance." 

If this was not the "friendly meeting" Biggs said could have come about, it was the meeting set up by President Trump. It was on Trump's ground, a venue the American president chose. Vance claimed  Zelensky had "come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media." However, it was one Ukrainian and two Americans, one of whom (Vice President Vance) was there to praise Donald Trump and urge worship of him. The meeting was set up by the President with media the President wanted there and featured a bully and his sycophant teaming up against a wartime leader. 

Similarly, Ron DeSantis, whom candidate Trump enjoyed calling "Ron DeSanctimonius," posted on X "the disrespect shown by Zelensky to @POTUS was jarring- especially given how much support the US has provided."  Indiana senator Jim Banks actually contended "Zelensky ungratefully expects us to bankroll and escalate another forever war- all while disrespecting the President. This entitlement is insulting."

That's an unwavering supporter of Donald J. Trump accusing another president- another human being, even of a sense of "entitlement."  Donald Trump whines when anyone dares even to question him and claimed a right to theft and possession of classified, even top secret, documents. By contrast, it's not "entitlement" when, as the BBC explained

It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this," said Trump. It's going to be a tough deal to make because the attitudes have to change."

The President and Vice-President reprimanded Zelensky, appearing most angered by what they perceived as his "attitude."

Just say thank you," Vance demanded at one point.

Zelensky's responses- which were to fact-check the two far more powerful men and argue his corner- seemed driven by the existential nature of this moment.

Donald Trump, however, had far different motivation indicated by this segment, from a commentary/podcast by Stephen A. Smith. Trump gives Vladimir Putin a negotiating point with "you're not winning the war," He waves his finger at Zelensky and at 4:23 actually pushes him:

This is not how diplomacy works and it is not how meetings between two (or more) individuals work, (Adding insult to insult, after the meeting the Ukrainian delegation was kicked out of the White House.) It is how one individual seeks to seek dominance and to prove he is the alpha dog. And it is Donald Trump trying to precipitate a physical fight he then would have blamed on the Ukrainian. (Don't buy it? Think of how pleased you are when anyone but a close friend or family member shoves you.) It fell far short of aggravated assault because Trump might not have come out of that unscathed. However, it was an unmistakable act of provocation and classic go-to move of a bully.

Not that anyone has taken notice of that, though, because such things tend to get lost in the despicable words and acts of a uniquely despicable human being. Yet even without referring to that incident, but emphasizing President Trump's acquiescence to Vladimir Putin's plot line- Steve Schmidt summarizes (first sentence at :07, the rest at 6:48 of the video below)

There has never been a moment of greater disgrace that has ever taken place in the Executive Mansion or in the Oval Office than this..... If Donald Trump gets his knife in the back of Ukraine, it's the United States that will bleed out and we'll bury more of our children than we'll be able to count. This is the warning: on this day of epic national disgrace, without question, in my fifty-four years of life, the worst, the lowest, in our history. What today was, was a Donald-Trump inspired 9/11 attack on our values, on

our ideals.

              

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Blaming Zelenskyy

One of the Republican Party's chief snowflakes is at it again.

🚨JD Vance goes BEAST-MODE on Zelenskyy trying to sabotage a Trump Peace deal:

“His country wouldn’t exist without the generosity of the United States of America. Say thank you. It’s stupid. Badmouthing Trump in public will not change his mind. Zelenskyy needs better consultants pic.twitter.com/96yzVIYKYn

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 20, 2025

 "'Badmouthing' the President of the United States?"  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy let Donald Trump off easy. As The Hill recounts

A testy back-and-forth has quickly escalated after Ukraine was left out of talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, drawing a rebuke from Zelensky.

Trump responded Tuesday with unfounded allegations that Zelensky “started” the war, with the Ukrainian leader responding Wednesday that the U.S. president was living in a “web of disinformation.” Trump sent his angry Truth Social post hours later.

This exchange came with the backdrop of disagreement when recently

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, said in an interview that the United States would like to see elections in Ukraine, possibly by the end of the year, following a potential cease-fire agreement: “Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war. I think it is important they do so...

As discussed elsewhere, the prohibition of wartime elections is established in Ukraine’s statutory law. Ukraine’s Constitution does not explicitly address the issue of wartime elections, except for Article 83(4) that provides for the extension of the Parliament’s powers until the day of the first meeting of the first session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Parliament), elected after the termination of martial law or state of emergency. Nothing similar is made with respect to the president. According to one of the drafters of the Constitution, this special treatment of Parliament was originally aimed to enhance Parliament’s standing in the constellation of powers and prevent possible abuses during wartime or national emergency.

Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” (2015) prohibits the holding of elections during martial law and the Electoral Code of Ukraine (2019) ordains suspension of all elections during such period. This is not an arbitrary political decision but a constitutionally viable solution aimed at ensuring stability in times of crisis. The law prevents governance from collapsing into uncertainty while the country is under extreme conditions.

As discussed elsewhere, conducting elections under the current conditions of war in Ukraine can undermine democratic principles and, therefore, is unconstitutional. Holding elections amid ongoing hostilities poses significant challenges to ensuring free and fair electoral processes, potentially leading to democratic erosion. In such volatile conditions, elections may not reflect the genuine will of the people, thereby compromising the legitimacy of the democratic system. Ukraine’s wartime conditions, thus, make elections both unconstitutional and unfeasible, with ongoing hostilities, mass displacement, security risks, and occupied territories undermining electoral integrity and legitimacy.

Though the last paragraph seems to be a bit of rationalization, Ukrainian law evidently encourages this "constitutionally viable solution." Further, knocking Zelenskyy or his nation for not adhering strictly to traditional democratic norms during wartime is a little rich coming from an appointee of President Donald Trump. 

Having encouraged the insurrection of January 6, 2021 to prevent a peaceful transition of power, the man who labeled the Democratic Party the "party of crime," Trump pardoned rioters who "violently assaulted police officers and those with long criminal records." Vice-President J.D. Vance has both defended the pardon of such criminals and denied the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The President who endorses an attempted coup at home so that he can remain in power blames Ukraine for starting the war with Russia and calls its leader a "dictator without elections." And no one in his Administration will concede that Vladimir Putin is himself a dictator.

I would prefer Ukraine hold elections because of the likelihood that, were Donald Trump still to be alive and kicking in autumn of 2028, he will try to remain in office by canceling the presidential election while possibly making a false analogy to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.. (Article 14 of the USA Constitution limits an individual from being elected more than twice. The document is silent on the number of terms or length of time a President can serve.)

But facts are facts, and the fact is that Ukraine was invaded by a country the current American President holds blameless. He has accused his counterpart of having been on the "gravy train" during the Biden Administration and says he "better move fast (or) he's not going to have a country left."  The mob boss masquerading as macho President has tried to shake down Zelenskyy, demanding ownership of 50% of Ukraine's mineral reserves because "I want it back."

Yet, a top representative of this Administration whines about "badmouthing Trump in public." Like President, like sycophant: always the victim.

 

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Same Hymnbook Bad Hymn

Well, now, this sounds familiar. In February, 2020

The United States signed a peace agreement with Taliban militants on Saturday aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allowing U.S. troops to return home from America's longest war. Under the agreement, the U.S. would draw its forces down to 8,600 from 13,000 in the next 3-4 months, with the remaining U.S. forces withdrawing in 14 months.

The complete pullout, however, would depend on the Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism.

The following month, Bruce Reidel of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and the Center for Middle East Policy wrote

The fundamental flaw in this agreement is that the internationally recognized Afghan government, led by Ashraf Ghani, was not included in the negotiations. By accepting the Taliban demand to exclude the Afghan government, the Trump administration betrayed our ally and elevated the Taliban to our equal. It is worth remembering that at the height of their power in 2000, only three governments — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government. Excluding the Afghan government is strikingly reminiscent of the Nixon administration’s deal with North Vietnam in 1973, which excluded the South Vietnam government. 

Moving west from Asia, signs point to the same play being run from the same playbook in that on Wednesday

Trump took the world by surprise as he announced the phone call on his Truth Social platform earlier, saying he and Putin had "both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine," using an unconfirmed figure for the toll in the conflict.

The US president said they had agreed to "work together very closely, including visiting each other's Nations" and to "have our respective teams start negotiations immediately" on Ukraine, 

Trump later called Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not included on the call with Putin. 

On a positive note, on Thursday Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth walked back his dangerous remarks of the day before

that the U.S. would not accept NATO membership for Ukraine or provide peacekeeping troops, and warned the country would not return to its pre-2014 borders. He also said NATO peacekeeping troops in Ukraine would not be covered by Article 5, a bedrock principle of the alliance that declares any attack on one nation is an attack on all. 

On a negative note, Hegseth also acknowledged "what he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of President Trump," rendering virtually anything stated by Hegseth as meaningless as we all knew it is in an Administration characterized by a Trump/Musk co-presidency. The two latter guys have plenty on the line with their business interests and ego, and Hegseth is to the elected, de jure President merely an alcoholic who looks good on television.

Putting all this aside:

Again, none of this is a surprise. He blames Ukraine for the war, and he says it’s up to Ukraine to “make peace.” Quit beating around the fucking bush: Donald Trump works for Vladimir Putin. Period. https://t.co/9EaS7LjtcA

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 12, 2025

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Tulsi Gabbard's Identity

Besides possibly being a Russian assset, Tulsi Gabbard has at least one interesting acquaintance. "

Back in 2017 DNI pick Tulsi Gabbard visited Syria and met with brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad. Throughout the war she repeatedly voiced support for Assad's regime crushing the Syrian Revolution.

Now that he's fallen she can't even bring herself to say his name. pic.twitter.com/EVRw6mmpR0

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) December 10, 2024

Last month, Nikki Haley noted Gabbard had gone "to Syria in 2017 for a photo-op with Bashar al-Assad while he was massacring his own people. She said she was skeptical that he was behind the chemical weapons attack. Now, this to me is disgusting."

Haley's political star has plummeted and Assad has fled Syria for Russia but Gabbard may be on her way to being Director of National Intelligence. But aside from the major issues- Syria and Russia swirling around her, Gabbard is a flaming hypocrite.

Tulsi Gabbard was born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii. She is a Hindu who married a Hindu, Abraham Williams, in Oahu in 2015 in what she dexribed as a "Hawaiian-style Hindu wedding" with Vedic customs. However, the Democrat turned Independent turned Republican in May stated

Many of those who are in great positions of poer in the Democratic Party, whether they admit it or not, or realize it or not, they see themselves as God. They appoint themselves as the authority. They view themselves as the ones who get to decide how we live our lives, what we're allowed to say, who we're allowed to hear from (and) how we get our information.

When Gabbard says "God," it is not clear to what or whom she is referring because

The majority of Hindus believe in one supreme God ((The Brahman). Everything is a part of and a manifestation of Brahman, the ultimate reality; however, Brahman's qualities and powers may be represented by a great diversity of gods/deities, all of which emanate from The Brahman. The concept of Brahman and the relationship of the Supreme Being with nature, indvidual souls, and TheBrahman's various manifestations are the subject of many different Hindu schools of philosophy/belief. 

The unvierse, Earth, and all creatures were created by Brahma, one of the many gds that emanated from The Brahman.

Thus, there is a monotheistic aspect of Hinduism.  Nonetheless, it is not considered among the three major monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and for good reason.

Tulsi Gabbard is is no position legitimately to lecture Democrats, the overwhelming majority of whom identify as Christians, Jews, or Muslims. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic. Yet, Gabbard, who belongs- and identifies with- a religion which seemingly recognizes a few gods, claims Democrats see themselves as "God."

Nor does Gabbard herself appear to believe in God. Below is a video in which she and her husband are singing along to John Lennon's Imagine. The lyrics begin

Imagine there's no heaven. It's eay if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky....

Imagine there's no countries. It isn'thard to do. Nothing to kill or die for. And no religion, too.

"Imagine there's no heaven (and) no hell below us, "and no religion, too."  Fortunately, there is no religious test for public office in the USA. and there are more important reasons to reject Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. But it may be one more indication that the nominee, who has ducked questiosns about her relationship with Bashar Assad and is Russia-friendly, is not exactly whom she appears to be.

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Finger in the Eye

True, but not only because of Matt Gaetz and the Department of Justice, the latter of which will become a hellhole whether or not the ex-congressman is approved.

Say goodbye to institutions of democracy. Been swell. SMH https://t.co/vn2rgDPp0S

— Jumbo Elliott (@JumboElliott76) November 14, 2024

In a larger- albeit more speculative sense- democracy is endangered because it appears that the incoming President of the USA  will be dancing to someone else's tune.

Snopes set out to examine the claim circulating on social media that "Russian state TV aired nude photos of Melania Trump shortly after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump was announced as the winner of the Nov. 5 presidential election."  It explained

An article published on Nov. 8, 2024, by Vox News Albania read: "Russia's largest television 'denigrates' the First Lady and publishes 'embarrassing' photos of Melania just 1 day after Trump's victory."

In short, because Russian state TV did indeed air revealing photos of Melania Trump taken during her modeling career shortly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, we have rated this claim as true.

An article published on Nov. 8, 2024, by Vox News Albania read: "Russia's largest television 'denigrates' the First Lady and publishes 'embarrassing' photos of Melania just 1 day after Trump's victory."

In short, because Russian state TV did indeed air revealing photos of Melania Trump taken during her modeling career shortly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, we have rated this claim as true.

The video containing clips from Russian state TV was shared on Nov. 11, 2024, on the YouTube channel of Russian News Monitor, a project of Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis that tracks Russian state media propaganda trends.

Davis also shared it on her X account on Nov. 8, 2024, writing "Meanwhile in Russia: this is how the most watched state TV channel in the country welcomed Melania Trump's upcoming return to the White House. Olga Skabeeva is trying not to laugh. This was probably her idea."

The segments featured in the video aired on Nov. 7, 2024, during "60 минут" ("60 Minutes"), a Russian political talk show on the Russia 1 channel, hosted by Skabeeva and Evgeny Popov.

The program was available on Smotrim.ru website, an official online platform of Russian state television.

The video shared on social media was compiled from separate excerpts featuring Melania Trump, taken from a program aired in Russia at 6:30 p.m. at timestamps: 41:35-42:18, 42:33-42:48, 43:34-43:42 and 45:28-45:33. (These clips also appeared in the "60 Minutes" program aired at 11.30 a.m. at time stamps: 1:05:30-1:05:45, 1:06:32-1:06:38 and 1:08:06-1:08:12).

The photos of Melania Trump used in the broadcast were not new or leaked images but widely known and previously published photos from her modeling career....

The Russian TV segment also referenced a video in which Melania Trump asked: "What does my body, my choice mean?"

Melania Trump did not deny that the photos were authentic, instead defending them because "we should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using att as a powerful means of self-expression."

This episode is a fitting eptaph to the death, occurring nine years ago, of the Republican Party as the "pro-family" party. Notably, the President-elect has said nothing. He has said nothing because he knows who has him by the short hairs.

Most likely, this is nothing new. In Helsinki in August of 2018

At a news conference after the summit, President Trump was asked if he believed his own intelligence agencies or the Russian president when it came to the allegations of meddling in the elections.

"President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," he replied.

US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scale of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media.

To then-Arizona Senator John McCain, it was "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." McCain had a suspicion, as have many others, including invertebrate Kevin McCarthy when in June, 2016 (when he still had a semblance of a spine) he admitted "there's two people I think Putin pays: (US Represenative Dana) Rohrabacher and Trump."

The sarcasm practically writes itself. Due to Donald Trump's forgiving nature wherein he lets bygones be bygones, and shrugs off insults, he has turned a blind eye to the effort of Russian state TV to taunt him.

Returning to reality: Donald Trump does not believe "revenge is a dish best served cold." Everything is an insult to him and he will strike back with a ferocity greater than what is directed to him. He will viciously denigrate the individual  any wy he can, as long as he can get away with it.

And  yet, he is quiet about this major slap in the face. Sometimes one has to take abuse directed at him. That's especially true when the puppet is due to assume the American presidency and the Russian president is the puppet master.

               

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